Velocipede frame



Sept. 15, 1936.v BQJ. ANDERSON VELOCIPEDE FRAME Filed Dec. 15, 1934 '2 Sheets-Sheet l Ava r0? 5 K w fl T 70/? 0/53 Sept. 15,1936. 7 B. J. ANDERSON 2,054,312

I v I VELOCIPEDE FRAME Filed Dec. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A? Tram EX FVa/J Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a velocipede frame and has for its principal object the economical production of an entire frame W including head, backbone, and forked axle support from a single sheet metal stamping.

Another and further important object of this invention resides in the provision of means for securing a seat supporting post in the frame.

Still another and further important object of the velocipede frame of this invention resides in the means for maintaining the two sides of the frame in operable relation to each other.

A still further important object of this invention resides in the means for securing the step plate member in association with the rear part of the frame.

An additional object of importance of this invention is the fact that the entire frame is blanked out in one operation and fitting of parts is therefore dispensed with in assembly.

Other objects of advantage and importance, some of which are hereinafter more fully set forth, will be apparent from the following specification. 1 1

The preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the velocipede frame of this invention.

36 Figure 2 is a rear view of a portion of the frame, with a part of the seat securing member broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the veloclpede frame and step plate with a portion of the frame 35 broken away to show the step plate assembly.

Figure 4 is an end View of the step plate member. I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and shows the preferred construction of the backbone portion of the frame. Figure 6 is a sectional View showing a slight modification in the construction of the frame.

Figure 7 is a View of a portion of the step plate taken from the rear and shows one of the turned 45 down ends thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3.

50 Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line I0 l0 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

' Figure 11 is a slightly enlarged fragmental view 35 of a portion of the rear end of the frame and.

showsin dotted lines one down turned end of the step plate member.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2 --l2 of Figure 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of member.

Figure 14 is a top plan View of the securing member.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral l0 indicates in a general way the head portion of the one piece sheet metal velocipede frame of this invention. In the construction of the preferred embodiment of the frame, the head I0 is formed from the central 1b portion of the stamping, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. r

The head In, which forms a bearing for a steering post is secured against spreading by fastening the upper and lower edges l2 of the frame together. This is preferably done by spot welding, although riveting or any other suitable means may be employed.

A reenforcing rib l4, gradually diminishing in depth from front to rear, adds greatly to the strength and stream-lined appearance of each side of the frame.

The assembled frame may be roughly divided into three portions; the head II), the backbone I6, and the forked rear axle supporting portions l 8.

The preferred construction of the backbone portion N5 of the frame, as shown in cross section in Figure 5, is substantially of channel formation. The lower edges 20 of this portion of the frame are turned downwardly and in assembly, contact the correspondingly turned down edge of the opposite side. An expanded aperture 2| in the downwardly turned lower edges 20, allows a saddle supporting post to pass therethrough. The upper inturned edges 22 of this portion of the frame abut, as is clearly shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6. A slight modification in the construction of the lower edges 23 of the backbone portion I6 of the frame is shown in Figure 6.

A saddle post receiving aperture 24 in the top of the backbone portion is formed with a part of said aperture in each side of the frame. This aperture 24, is in alignment with the expanded aperture 2| in the bottom of the frame.

Positioned on top of the backbone portion I6 of the frame and extending rearwardly therealong thence beneath a part of the top surface of the axle supporting portion I8, is a securing member 26, adapted to maintain the frame in the securing alignment, and to prevent spreading of the sides.

is notched on each side just forward of its wide} rear end, which is offset and adapted to fit be-' neath and be secured to the under'surface of the edges22 r i The rear axle supporting portion I8 of the 7 frame is formed by'turning portions of the frame outwardly, thence rearwardly, as is best shown in Figures 2 and'3. An aligned drawneck aperture 29 adjacent each lower end of the frame provides a means for securing a rear axle in operable association with said frame.

Positioned between the axle supportingends' of the frame is a step'plate member 3e, which is formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Downwardly turned. portions 32 on each end of the step plate member are adapted to be positioned within'the channel of the frame as is clearly a in relation to the frame. Whereit is found a'dvis- 'able, the step plate member may be further secured to the frame by crimping the adjacent shown in Figures Hand 12. Perforations 34', in the downwardly turned ends 32, corresponding in location and aligning with the apertures 29, al-

low an axle to be inserted beneath the step plate and also assist in properly locating'the step plate edges of the frame, by welding, or by any other suitable means. 'The protruding edges of;the

frame adjacent the down turned portion of' the step platemember are adapted to be crimped,'as

. is clearly shown in Figurel2.

It' will be apparent from the foregoingthat herein is provided a velocipede frame which has 'the general appearance of an improved tubular frame, but because of 'its particular construction in which the cost of stock is much less, the number of operations greatly reduced, and assembly greatly facilitated, it may be' much more economically'produced.

Furthermore, the elimination of joints increases the strength of the'frame, and the frame here produced is considerably lighter than is the case where overlapping joints are usedfor securing various parts; even though made of the same gauge material. 7

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

' Iclaim as my invention:

1. A velocipede frame formed of a single piece of sheet metaL the steering post receiving bearing being formed of the central portion of the piece of sheet metal and the corresponding edges of the portion of the sheet metal on each side of said central portion being joined to form a backbone, the rear portion of the frame being forked, and means positioned near the ends of said forked portion for maintaining the forks of said portion in spaced apart relation, said means'comprising a relatively fiat stamping.

2. In a velocipede frame formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the upper and lower edges of said piece of sheet metal being turned inwardly and joined, a portion of a saddle post receiving aperture in each of said upper edges, a securing member positioned on the frame, the rear portion of the frame being forked, and means positioned near the ends of said forked portion for maintaining said portions in spaced apart relation, said means comprising a substantially flat member having step plate portions.

3. In a velocipede frame formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the upper and lower edges of said piece of sheet metal being turned inwardly and joined, a portion of a saddle post receiving aperture in each of the upper edges of said frame, and a securing member positioned on top of the frame, said securing member extending rearwardly, thence beneath the upper surface of a part of the frame.

4. A velocipede frame comprising, head, backbone and axle supporting portions formed of a single sheet metal stamping, said head portion being formed of the middle part of the stamping,

the balance of the stamping being of substantially channel formation, the lower edges of a portion of the stamping being turned downwardly,-the channel parts of the stamping forming the backbone portion of the frame being in parallel alignment withthe downwardly turned portions of the lower edges in engagement, and the'end' portions of said stamping being spread apart and pertions of the lower edges in'engagement, the end portions'of said stamping being spread apart, a step plate member positioned between said spread apart end portiohsfand means for supporting an axle independently member. a 6. 'A'velocipede frame comprising, head, backof said step plate bone and axle supporting portions formed of a single sheet metal stamping, said head portion being formed of the middle part of the stamping,

the balance of the stamping being of substantially channel formation, the lower' edges of a portion of the stamping being turned downwardly, the

channel parts of the stamping forming the backbone portion of the frame'being in parallel alignment with the downwardly turned portions of the lower edges in engagemenhthe portions adjacent the ends of said stamping being spread apart and perforated to receive an axle, and .a step plate member having downwardly turned perforated ends positioned between said spread apart end portions.

7. A velocipede frame comprising, head, back bone and axle supporting portions formed of a single sheet metal stamping, said head portion being formed of the middle part of the stamping, the balance of the stamping being of substantially channel formation, the lower edges of a portion of the stamping being turned downward-' ly, the channel parts of the stamping forming the V backbone portion of the frame being in parallel alignment with the downwardly turned portions of the lower edges in engagement, the end portions of said stamping being spread apart and perforated to receive an" axle, and a step plate member havingdownwardly turned perforated endspositioned between said spread apart end portions of the frame, said downwardlyv turned perforated ends being positioned within the channels with said perforations in alignment.

8. A securing member for a velocipede frame comprising a stamping having a portion adapted to be secured to the outer surface of a velocipede frame, a portion adapted to be secured to the inner surface of a velocipede frame and means associated with said stamping for receiving and securing a saddle post.

9. A step plate member for a velocipede comprising a substantially flat stamping, a portion near each end of said stamping being turned at right angles thereto and adapted to be positioned within a channel shaped frame.

10. A velocipede frame formed of sheet metal, each side of said frame comprising a substantially channel shaped portion having edges adapted to be secured to the corresponding edges of the opposite side, a steering post bearing formed in the front end of the frame, and the rear end of each side offset and apertured to form a forked axle support, and a step plate member positioned between said offset end portions.

11. In a sheet metal velocipede frame, each side of said frame having corresponding portions of the top and bottom edges thereof in alignment and joined, the sides of said frame intermediate the edges being spaced apart, the rear end of each side of said frame being turned outwardly and rearwardly, and means for maintaining said ends in spaced apart relation, said means comprising a relatively fiat stamping having each end thereof turned at right angles to the body of said stamping.

BERT J. ANDERSON. 

